Nine man Gills beat Oxford

The Gills were backs to the wall for most of the second half as they picked up three points.

Lewis Montrose scored a stunning goal on the stroke of half time to secure the points for the Gills.

Joe Martin and then goal scorer Lewis Montrose both saw red in the second half as the Gills held on for a hard fought three points.

Oxford were out of the traps the faster of the two teams, but they were restricted to half chances early on.

The first real effort for all Oxford possession came in the 23rd minute. Robert Hall broke into the Gills box but saw his shot saved by Ross Flitney.

Liam Davis was the next to try his luck from distance for Oxford, but he could only find Ross Flitney in goal.

With Oxford down to 10 men as Deane Smalley was off the pitch receiving treatment for a head wound, the Gills went ahead.

Kuffour’s initial effort was saved by the keeper but invitingly to Montrose. He drove the ball from distance into the top corner to make it 1-0.

Half Time 1-0

In the second half it was back to the wall defending for the Gills. With Joe Martin sent off for two yellow cards, and Lewis Montrose for a somewhat rash challenge.

The half was no more than five minutes old when Martin saw red after collecting his second yellow for a foul on Hall.

Ross Flitney was then to become the star of the show with a string of fine saves to keep the Gills in the game. Heslop’s shot was superbly dealt with by the Gills keeper.

West Ham loanee Hall was the next to bring a smart reflex save from the Gills custodian.

Peter Leven then stepped up with a free-kick that was to test Flitney but it was a challenge the former Dover man was more than equal too.

The Gills were to stand form as the clocked ticked down while Oxford picked up a flurry of bookings as their frustrations began to show.

With the final whistle it saw the Gills move up to fifth and leapfrog their opponents. They now face two games in a week with Swindon and Morecambe both away.